The Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning-Revised (Dial-R) Test, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), and the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test (MFVPT) were used for kindergarten screening in three rural schools in Texas. Teachers in the schools requested a handbook that would help them interpret test scores and plan…

Based on the hypothesis that teachers possessing extensive and coherent knowledge structures are the most effective teachers, this paper explores the use of a modified ordered tree (OT) technique for measuring teachers' knowledge structures. Two questions are posed: (1) Can a modified OT technique be used to measure teachers' knowledge structures?…

The Purdue Academic Learning Opportunity Systems (PALOS), a state-wide program based at Purdue University, was established to provide an administrative structure to enhance the education of Indiana adult residents. The PALOS Mathematics program was designed to increase mathematics achievement levels for selected Indiana populations. The initial…

This report describes the activities of the Distance Education Committee (DEC), an initiative sponsored by TVOntario (TVO) from February 1987 to April 1988. The three major goals of the initiative were: (1) to encourage the development of distance education in Ontario by providing an opportunity for adult education institutions and organizations…

The collaborative consultancy role proposed for the educational technologist requires moving beyond the linear model of the systematic approach. Instructional developers need to operate on the conceptual level, to see themselves as problem solvers within a dynamic system in which there are no straight paths, but instead, many paths and many…

This document describes an instructional analysis technique believed to be an expedient and effective alternative to the Gagne-Briggs model because, among other reasons, it is easier to teach to novice trainers. The technique is in use in the U.S. Marine Corps. The document consists of the following: an overview of the different kinds of analysis…

The common theme uniting this collection of six essays is the deceiving simplicity of teaching. Their underlying purpose is to uncover the complexity of the craft as embodied in the two dominant outlooks on educational thought and practice: the "mimetic" and the "transformative." Discussions are presented on five crucial issues: (1) on knowing how…

This chapter discusses the foundations of instructional development and analyzes the development of various models, paradigms, archetypes, and themata used to describe instructional development. Two key strands in the literature of instructional development--instructional efficiency ("doing the right things") and instructional…

This examination of the communication and interpersonal aspects of the instructional developer/client consulting relationship suggests that communication breakdowns are more than likely due to a misunderstanding of the client's characteristics on the part of the developer. Several models of the consulting relationship are presented, and specific…

This chapter advocates the use of naturalistic inquiry as a method for undertaking unobtrusive research in instructional development. The advantages of naturalistic inquiry are listed, and it is suggested that these advantages make this form of research very useful to the field of instructional development. It is argued that both naturalistic…

Based on the premise that instructional development is a change process and the instructional developer is a change agent, this chapter begins by considering the literature of planned change as applied to the process of instructional development. It is argued that instructional product evaluation must include both formative and summative…

This chapter considers the different emphases that an instructional improvement agency can adopt--faculty development, instructional development, organizational development, or some combination. Seven alternative emphases are outlined, and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are described. The importance of three factors is…

This chapter considers the history of instructional development (ID) in the military, with particular emphasis on the U.S. Navy. The ID process used at the Navy's Instructional Program Development Centers is presented, including the process for simulator development. An in-depth analysis of the problems encountered with educational technology…

This document contains information, based on the instructional systems design model, about the development and delivery of a 10-minute video training program to teach college engineering technology students how to use a micrometer to measure to one thousandth of an inch. The students were taught the following: (1) to identify the parts of the…

Arguing that the failure of instructional materials is frequently due to misconceptions held by their developers concerning the nature of comprehension, this chapter examines the factors involved in comprehension and relates them to the design of instructional materials. Three types of errors in comprehension are discussed, and ways to avoid them…